Self-propelled sod cutting machine



July 6, 1954 V. L. BOWSER ET AL SELF-PROPELLED SOD CUTTING MACHINE Filed July 27, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTD RN EYS July 6, 1954 v, L. BowsER ET AL 2,682,824

SELF-PROPELLED son CUTTING MACHINE Filed Ju'ly 27, 1950 .3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTD RN EYS July 6 1954 v. L.BowsER ETAL 2,682,824

SELF-PROPELLED SOD CUTTING MACHINE Filed July 27, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Zdzvz'fa g/arf,

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ATTE RN EYS Patented July 6, 1954 2,682,824 SELF-PROPELLED son CUTTING MACHINE `f i" Virgil L. Bowser and EdwinfJ. Dare,

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Application July 27, 195o, 'serial N0.,176,1s

This invention relates to machines for cutting sod where sod is removed and replanted to provide sod for lawns and other areas, and in par- 'ticular this invention relates to a power actuated machine of the tractor type having a U-shape sod cutting blade with cutting discs aligned with the ends of the blade and with means ,for recipro- 2 Claims. (Cl. 97?.'2'26) In the usual type of sod cutting attachment a sod cutting blade positioned below the roots of the sod is drawn forwardly Vto peel or loosen the being transported from one position to another. Where the blade is drawn forwardly with a steady continuous pull the sod is forced forwardly and due to the plowing action has a tendency to pile or mash together; With this thought in' mind this invention contemplates a sod removing machine in which a blade is actuated with a reciprocating action similar to the chopping with a hoe whereby withY the edges of the sod cut by rotating cutters'the body of the sod is worked free from the soil. v

The object ofl this invention is, therefore, to provide means for actuating a cutting blade of a sodremoving machine with a chopping or reciprocating action.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sod removing machine having a reciprocating cutting blade'in which means is provided for cutting the edges of the sod at the ends of the blade.

A further object of the invention is to provide a self propelled sod removing machine having a reciprocating blade with cutting discs for cutting sod at the ends of the blade which is of a simple and economical construction.

Other features and advantages of theinvention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the sod cutting machine illustrating a cutting blade and discs extended downwardly in sod cutting positions.

Figure 2 is a plan View of the sod cutting machine.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the forward end of the machine, similar to that shown in Figure 1, except showing the cutting blade and discs in upwardly extended or inoperative positions.

Figure 4 is a front elevational View looking toward the forward end of the machine with parts omitted and with part of the bed of the machine broken away and shown in section.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved sod cutting machine of this invention includes a blade Il), discs I I and I2 positioned to correspond with the ends of the blade, and a sliding plate or platform I3 mounted on the bed I4 of the frame I5 on which plate a motor I6 is carried.

kThe cutting blade I0 is in the form of a U having upwardly extended ends I1 by which it is attached to the lower ends of vertically disposed arms I8 and I9 by rivets or bolts 20. The arms I8 and I9 are pivotally connected to the upper ends of upwardly extended sections 2l and 22 of the frame by links 23 and 24 on the ends of a pin 25 extended through the uprights and connected to the arms I8 and I9 by a rod 26.

' The lower ends of the arms I8 and I9 are connected to connecting rods 21 and 28 by pins 29 and 30 and the opposite ends of the connecting rods are connected to pins 3| and 32 that are eccentrically positioned on eccentrics 33 and 34.

'The eccentrics are mounted on a shaft 35 that is journalled in the forward end 36 of the frame The shaft 35 is driven from the engine or motor I6 through a countershaft 31 with a chain 38 trained over sprockets 39 and 40 on the shafts 31 and 35, respectively, and through a belt 4I on a pulley 42 on the shaft 31 and a pulley 43 on the motor shaft 44'. The shaft 31 extends from a transmission housing 45 and the lever 46 is provided for shifting the transmission to different speeds and also to forward and reverse. The housing 45 is also provided with a shaft 41 and a sprocket 48 and this shaft drives a sprocket 49 on the steering wheel shaft 58 through a chain 5I. Wheels 52 and 53 are mounted on the shaft 5'0 and withV the axle 50 journaled in the centrally disposed element 54, as shown in Figure 4 the device is steered by the handle bars 55 which are mounted on the upwardly extended sections 2I and 22 of the frame.

The forward part of the frame is pivotally connected to a tongue 56 of a triangular shaped rear portion 51 by a king pin 58 and the section 51 which is provided with a seat 59 is mounted on wheels 60 and 6I through an axle 62. The seat is carried by a strut 63 with a support bar 64 extended from the forward end.

The side cutting discs or edgers II and I2 are freely rotatable on shafts 65 and 66 in the ends of links 81 and 68 and the links are pivotally attached to the rear section of the forward end 38 of the frame I5 by pins G9. The positions of the cutting discs I I and I2 are independently adjustable by rods 1D and 1I that are pivotally connected to the links by sockets 12 and that extend through bearings 13 and 14 on the upper ends of the arms I8 and I9.

Treadles 15 and 16 are carried on the lower ends of arms 11 and 18, the treadle 15 being xedly mounted so that it remains stationary and the treadle 18 being pivotally mounted on a pin 19, the upper end of the treadle 1-6 being connected by a link 88 to a lever 8| pivotally mounted on a pin 82 which is mounted on the frame I5 adjacent the lower edge of the plate I3. The upper end 83 of the lever BI is pivoted at 94 on the plate I3, so that as the treadle 16 is pivoted anticlockwise the upper end 83 of the lever Y 8l slides the plate I3 upon which the motor I6l is mounted rearwardly thereby tightening the belt 4I, providing a. clutch for holding the parts in operative positions. The opposite end of the plate I3 is connected to the frame of the machine by a link 84 that is pivotally mounted on the frame by a pin 85 and connected to the plate by a pin 86.

The elevations of the edging discs II and I2 and blade I0 are controlled by hand lever 81 that is pivotally mounted on the shaft 25 on the outer end of which the arm 24 is positioned and thev hand lever is held in adjusted positions by a latch 88 that is positioned to coact with notches 89 in a ratchet segment 98. The latch 88 is controlled by the lever 9| and a spring 92.

The rods 18 and 1I are retained in adjusted positions in the bearings 13 and 14 by adjusting nuts 93 and the bearings are pivotally mounted on the ends of the shaft 26 by which the arms I8, and I9 and links 23 and 24 are connected.

With the parts arranged inV this manner the cutting discs Il and I2 and the blade IIl may be set to suitable operative positionsy as shown 1 in Figure 1 and, with. the engine running, the treadle 16 is pressed forwardly whereby the engine is moved to tighten the belt 4I and with the engine held in this position the machine is propelled by the wheels 52 and 53 with the eccentrics 33 and 34 actuating the blade l with a chopping action. By this means the sod is chopped free and with the edges cut by the discs II and |72 the sod is free to be rolled or stacked. The thickness of the sod being cut may readily be controlled by the position of the hand lever 81 and the machine may readily be steered by the handle bars 55.

It will be understood that modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a sod cutting machine, the combina tion which comprises a frame having steering and driving wheels positioned under the forward end and spaced follower wheels journaled on the rear end, a motor mounted on the frame, a horizontally disposed cutter blade having upwardly extended ends, vertically disposed arms positioned on the. sides of the fra-me on the lower ends of which the upwardly extended ends of the cutter blades are mounted, links pivotally and adjustably mounting the said arms on the frame, a hand lever and ratchet combinationv for vertically adjusting the said arms, eccentrics journaled in the forward end of the frame, links connecting the eccentrics with the lower ends of the blade carrying arms, spaced vertically disposed cutting discs journaled in the ends of links pivotally mounted on the frame, rods connecting the cutting. discs to the vertically disposed arms, and means actuating the eccentrics and driving wheels by the motor.,

2. In a sod cutting machine, the combination which comprises a wheeled frame, a motor mounted on the frame, a horizontally disposed cutter blade having upwardly extended ends, vertically disposed arms positioned on the sides of the frame on the lower ends of which the upwardly extended ends of the cutter blades are mounted, means pivotally and' adjustably mounting the saidv arms on the frame, a hand lever and ratchet combination for vertically adjusting the said arms, eccentrics journaled in the forward end of the frame, links connecting the eccentrics with the lower ends ofV thev blade carrying arms,

spaced vertically disposed cuttings discs journaled in the ends of links pivotally mounted' on the frame, rods connecting the cutting discs to the vertically disposed arms, means actuating the eccentrics by the motor, the said motor being mounted on aY plate slidably mounted on the frame, a foot treadle positioned on the frame, and means sliding the plate on which the motor is mounted by the foot treadle to provide clutch neans for bringing the parts into operative posiions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,537,412 Daiferner May 12, 1925 2,260,344 Shaw Oct. 28, 1941 2,284,826 Kroeger June 2, 1942 2,286,312 Scarlett et al June 16?, 1942 2,345,425 Phillips Mar. 28, 1944 2,378,615 Brown June 19, 1945 2,614,477 Habenicht Oct. 21,1952 2,617,347 Provost Nov. 1l, 1952 

